Okay, so, I’ve been messing around with watches lately, and I thought I’d try to remake one of those fancy Patek Philippe ones. You know, the Calatrava 6119R-001? Yeah, that one. It’s a pretty sweet-looking watch, but man, it’s expensive! I figured, why not try to make my own version? So, that’s what I did.
First, I started looking around online, trying to find out everything I could about this watch. I found out that people are waiting for years to get their hands on one of these! They usually go for around $24,000 on the secondary market, but the price can range from $11,000 to $84,000. Crazy, right? And the new ones? Forget about it! The official flagship stores have waiting lists longer than my grocery list. One listing I saw was for over $28,000! I also found some details about the watch itself, like it’s 39mm in diameter and 8.08mm thick. It’s water-resistant up to 30 meters and has a sapphire crystal case back. Sounds fancy, huh?
So, after gathering all this info, I started to plan out my remake. I definitely wasn’t aiming for an exact replica, but I wanted to capture the essence of the Calatrava 6119R-001. I mean, I don’t have the skills or tools to make a real Patek Philippe! I started by sketching out some designs, trying to figure out what parts I could use and what I’d have to make myself.
Then, I began searching for the parts. I hit up some online stores, checked out some local shops, and even rummaged through my old watch collection. It was like a treasure hunt! I found a nice, round case that was about the right size, and I managed to find some hands that looked similar to the original.
The dial was a bit trickier. The Calatrava 6119R-001 has this cool “Clous de Paris” pattern, which is basically a fancy way of saying it has a textured design. I couldn’t replicate that exactly, but I found a dial with a simple, clean design that I thought would work well.
Putting it all together was the most challenging part. I had to be super careful not to damage any of the parts. It took a lot of patience and a few failed attempts, but I finally managed to assemble the whole thing. I also made a simple band for it.
The Final Result
And there you have it, my homemade version of the Patek Philippe Calatrava 6119R-001! It’s not perfect, but I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. It’s got that classic, elegant look, and it actually keeps time pretty well. Plus, I didn’t have to spend thousands of dollars or wait years to get it!
So, if you’re thinking about trying to remake a watch, go for it! It’s a fun and rewarding project, and you might be surprised at what you can create. Just be prepared to spend some time researching, sourcing parts, and putting it all together. And remember, it doesn’t have to be perfect. It’s all about the process and the satisfaction of making something with your own hands.
- The diameter of my watch is around 39mm, just like the real one.
- It’s not water-resistant, so I won’t be taking it for a swim anytime soon!
- I am not a professional, just having some fun.
- It is not the same quality as the original but much cheaper.
I hope you enjoyed reading about my little watchmaking adventure. Maybe it’ll inspire you to try something similar. Who knows, you might discover a new hobby!
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